TELL US: Should Selectmen Meet Weekly or Every Other Week?

The board will discuss a possible scheduling amendment next week

The Windham Board of Selectmen will discuss next Monday whether it makes sense for them to meet every other week rather than weekly. As the schedule currently stands, the board pretty much meets every Monday, excluding holidays, throughout the calendar year. Selectmen bylaws already have meetings every other Monday. According to Chairman Phil LoChiatto, the is to be more efficient at each meeting by allowing the board to have more time to review the material before each meeting. If the change were to occur, it would start at the beginning of April. By comparison, the Salem Board of Selectmen meets on the first, second and fourth Monday of every month. We want to hear from you. Should the Windham Selectmen change how often they meet? How do…

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One Man Wolf Pack

7:05 am on Saturday, March 23, 2013

As a side note, in case you have not been following along, it is my contention that neither the planning board members nor the selectmen have been doing a good job. I have a glaring example that eventually they will have to address. What your seeing is me advancing eventually at every opportunity. Sorry if comments are not always point on with an article above; they do not even answer the …   more ›

TELL US: Where Does School District go from Here?

We want to hear from you, Windham.

On Tuesday night, Windham voters made a statement of non-support to all of the school district articles that were presented on the ballot. With a $31 million bond for a school and turf field, a negotiated teacher contract and the district operating budget all failing, the school district is back to square one. Where do you think the district should go from here? Should more communication take place with the voters? Perhaps you have an idea for an alternative facility plan. Maybe you think nothing should be done at all. Sound off below with your take on what you think the school district's strategy should be after two consecutive years of 'no' votes on all of the items that have appeared on the ballot apart from the SAU 28 split.

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soc

7:32 am on Monday, March 18, 2013

A few things to note. For those that are fortunate enough to pay the extra...it wasn't about the money, to me it was a true belief that it was waste and added stress on the educational value (extra transition). I know this is hollow for someone that may have kids in the system but looking at 'investing' in the system really is a long term endeavor. The town has been a 'level funding' for quiet a …   more ›

What Does Your Paycheck Look Like Post Fiscal Cliff?

People making $50,000 a year who are paid twice each month are now taking home $42 less in their paychecks.

Two weeks after Congress averted the Fiscal Cliff, Windham area residents have undoubtedly seen the effect of the loss of the payroll tax cut in their paychecks. If you make $50,000 a year, you are now paying about $1,000 more in federal taxes, according to CBS. For those who are paid twice each month, that amounts to about $42 less per paycheck or $84 less per month. The Wall Street Journal has a calculator to determine how much more in taxes you are now paying a year based on your salary. How do you feel about your paycheck following the Fiscal Cliff deal?

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Letter to the Editor

LETTER: WIndham Parent Supports New School

Voters will see a new 7th and 8th grade facility on the ballot in March.

The following is a letter to the editor. To submit your own, email michael.ryan@patch.com The following letter was submitted by a parent in the Windham School District:   Dear Windham Citizens,   Windham parents undoubtedly share a few important and constant goals for our children: We want them safe. We want them happy. We want them educated.  The constant here is wanting what is best; wanting what will guarantee the success of our children. The key to that constant lies squarely on the shoulders of our school systems. As voters, we hold that key.  Windham is a desirable place to live. A population increase of over 13% in the last decade doesn’t lie. But, that increase comes with a price. Our first through eighth grades are over crowded. …

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Letter to the Editor

LETTER: Teacher Contract Negotiations

Windham resident Carolyn Therrien wrote a letter to Windham Patch.

The following is a letter to the editor. To submit your own, email michael.ryan@patch.com   By Carolyn Therrien   With the ever increasing school budget, I wrote to the school board on October 5th concerning the teachers contract that they were negotiating.  One of the responses was "Have you shared your perspectives with the WEA?" and another was: "have you shared your concerns with the teachers?"  I decided to share my perspective/concerns with everyone after just reading on the Patch that "This year's default school budget shows a 3.46 percent increase due to increases in New Hampshire retirement rates, health insurance, transportation contracts, special education and the SAU 28 split... This year's operating budget is a 1.12 percent …

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The Granite View

Voters Had Right to Know About State Rep's Criminal Past

Columnist says Stacie Laughton's decision to resign "shows a respect for the voters that was lacking during her campaign."

I have always believed that politics should be viewed as a type of community service, a path by which to help make the world in which we and future generations live a better place. I believe deeply that politicians should be true public servants, but too often our elected representatives disappoint us, putting power above the people and placing their own self-interests ahead of their elected duties. It is a non-partisan fact that politicians will sometimes do stupid, or worse, criminal, things and must be held accountable for those actions. When Rep. Todd Akin, R-MO, made a stupid statement about “legitimate rape,” I called him stupid and said he should resign. He didn’t, but his comments were public and the voters in his district were …

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The Granite View

Today's Politicians Can Learn from Rudman

Columnist says the former NH Senator showed leadership on difficult issues in difficult times.

Former New Hampshire Senator Warren Rudman passed away this week at the age of 82 from complications related to lymphoma. His loss is being memorialized in papers across the country, including the New York Times, the Washington Post and many others. Rudman became an impressive presence in Washington during his two terms as Senator, serving from 1980-1993. Rudman was aggressive and confrontational at times, but was also known and respected for his willingness to work across the aisle on big issues and small and he played an important role in American history during his years in Washington. Rudman was a vocal critic of President Reagan during the Iran-Contra hearings. He served on the Senate Ethics Eommittee and led the investigation of the …

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Jennifer Horn

2:17 am on Monday, November 26, 2012

Washington Post - Nov. 20, 2012 "The Gramm–Rudman–Hollings Act was designed to trim the federal deficit, but it ultimately didn’t work, despite their best efforts."   more ›

LETTER: Chairman Breton Displays Fiscal Leadership

The following letter was submitted to Windham Patch by Ken Eyring.

The following is a letter to the editor. To submit your own, email michael.ryan@patch.com By Ken Eyring At the Board of Selectmen meeting this past Monday, Dave Sullivan (Windham’s Town Administrator) proposed increasing the town budget from $12.4M to $12.7M.  This proposal represents a modest increase of 2.73 percent – but it does not include any changes in the police and firefighters contract, which are still in negotiations.  I believe that while the proposed increase of $300K could be considered a relatively small amount by many, Chairman Breton replied, “A $337,000 increase in spending is above comprehension for me”.  My first reaction was one of sincere appreciation.  I’ve always believed that our elected officials should spend our …

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The Granite View

Saluting Our Veterans

Columnist thanks all those who protect our nation.

The timing of this column did not allow for a salute to our military on Veterans Day, but I am a believer in saying thank you, so I will not allow the vagaries of a calendar to get in the way. We live in a nation that is seriously divided.  he results of our most recent elections certainly reflect that, with just over 2 percent of the vote between winner and loser. It seems that our political divisions run deeper each day, but I have always believed that good people can come together for a higher purpose in spite of political differences, and our men and women in uniform are the most extraordinary example of that. As a mother, I have always been profoundly grateful that there is a fighting force ready and willing to place themselves …

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Proud Conservative

10:52 pm on Thursday, February 21, 2013

Registration is there if we ever need to call on citizens to serve. It's a guarantee of sorts that we will not be short of troops if the need arises. Since we cannot predict the future, it's better to be prepared than to be caught unprepared to defend the country. Will citizens voluntarily respond to an attack on our country? Some will. Some won't. And I wouldn't be so sure that the number …   more ›

Letter to the Editor

LETTER: Say 'No' to NH Income Tax

Genarro A. Ruocco, Jr. wrote a letter to Windham Patch.

The following is a letter to the editor. To submit your own, email michael.ryan@patch.com   By Genarro A. Ruocco, Jr. Let's stop the madness. The quotes below are from a man infinitely more qualified than the politicians who think a government should have the right to take more and more of our money in the form of taxation: "I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them." Thomas Jefferson "It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes. A principle which if acted on would save one-half the wars of the world." Thomas Jefferson "To compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation of opinions …

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